AfroPoP Digital Shorts Series Feature ‘Aunties’ Who Farm Harriet Tubman’s Ancestral Lands

Donna Dear and Paulette Greene, who are affectionately known as “The Aunties” co-own Mt. Pleasant Acres Farms located in Preston, Maryland. Their 111-acre plot of land on the Eastern Shore of Maryland is a welcoming place full of Black History, row crops, fruits, vegetables, forests, wetlands and so much more.

The married couple’s fascinating journey is intertwined in stewarding farmlands and working to keep abolitionist Harriet Tubman’s spirit alive through agriculture, education and heritage preservation. 

“The land that we live on is about 2,000 plus acres of land that is not all ours. There are many private owners on this land, but this is the land where Harriet Tubman’s parents and brothers lived. It was owned by a plantation holder out of Dorchester County. Harriet came from Dorchester County,” said Greene.

Mt. Pleasant Acres Farms has been said to be a stop on the Underground Railroad. The land is a part of a former plantation where Dear and Greene’s many “nieces” and “nephews” come to spend time with the Black farmers on the historic property.

Dear, a former military officer, and Greene, an educator, purchased the farm in 1994. It is adjacent to land developed by Greene’s great-grandparents. 

“The Aunties,” a short environmental documentary about Dear and Green’s work, is a part of Black Public Media’s “AfroPoP Digital Shorts” series. “AfroPoP Digital Shorts” is an offshoot of BPM’s award-winning documentary and narrative series.

The film about Dear and Greene premieres on Monday, February 17, 2025, by 2 p.m. on Black Public Media’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BlackPublicMedia/. It will be available to view for at least two months.

The filmmakers and Philadelphia residents, Charlyn Griffith-Oro and Jeannine Kayembe-Oro have reportedly led various tours to Mt. Pleasant Acres Farms. Black city dwellers connect with the rural land while visiting a site of food production. 

Dear and Greene also shared that schools, community organizations and individuals find out about their farm and pay visits to them. Last year, hundreds of visitors made their way to Mt. Pleasant Acres Farms during a Juneteenth celebration. Another one will be held this year.

“This is going to be the second one on June 19,” Greene said.

A soul festival that was advertised online was also held last year. Many attendees did not know “The Aunties” personally before taking the trip to the property. 

Greene further stated that young people are often excited to visit their farm full of history, run by two Black women. It is a chance for people from different walks of life and places to meet each other and interact. Some Mt. Pleasant Acres Farms visitors camp out.

Mt. Pleasant Acres Farms serves as a hub where individuals can interact hands-on. Dear and Greene also honor the ancestors by growing food there.

“You don’t live to eat; you eat to live,” Greene stated. “When we grow food, we have people coming who want to know how to grow. They work with us. Many of them are volunteers. They want to use the practices that we use in order to learn how to grow food naturally.” 

Some “nieces” and “nephews” who have trained with their “Aunties” through mentorship have evolved and now make food products.

“One of the most rewarding things about the “nieces” and “nephews” that come to us is that we embrace them. What we mentor them about; they also are mentoring us. It’s reciprocal. It’s not a one-way street. We collectively learn from each other,” said Dear.

Both Dear and Greene are passionate proponents of organic food production, showcasing Black history, and facilitating the relationship between African Americans and land while taking steps towards real climate justice. While “The Aunties” uplift Black culture from a historical lens during Black History Month, it is an ideal time to pause to discover lesser-explored facets of Black life, from growing food to exploring land.

“The bottom line is Black history is our history, and we have a responsibility to keep it moving in a manner that depicts us as being the people we are,” said Greene. Watch a trailer for “The Aunties” via: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WFBNM6wl4o. Learn more about “The Aunties” by visiting https://www.theaunties.farm. Mt. Pleasant Acres Farms’ hours are by appointment only. Contact Dear and Greene to inquire about in-person experiences. You may also send an email through the website.